Teat cup



E. J. GIERL Nmn. m, 195G TEAT CUP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1947 Inventor Edward J. Gierl 2K, 195% E. .1. GIERL {a TEAT CUP Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheet 2 Inventor v Edward J. Gierl g Aflmqs Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEAT our Edward J. Gierl, Athens, Wis. Application'March 2c, 1947, Serial No. 737,314

' (o1. a1-s5) I 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in teat cups for usein connection with milkingv machines and more particularly to a device of this character embodying an inner expanding and contracting chamber and an outer substantially rigid chamber whereby air under pressure subjected to the outer-chamber will contract the inner chamber by a progressive action commencing at or near the base of the teat and progressing downwardly, in a manner to effectively and completely squeeze the milk from the teat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a teat cup of this character in which the inner expanding and contracting chamber includes a separate upper chamber with an individual pressure supply tube leading thereto whereby to initially cut off-v the teat at its base while the lower portion of the expandible and contractible chamber subsequently performs its squeezing action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the inner chamber has its walls constructed of live rubber of decreasing resiliency toward its lower end whereby the walls will initially contract toward their upper ends and the contracting action will continue progressively downwardly to effectively empty the teat.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andotherwise well adapted. for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 2 is a similar view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the cups showing the system of connecting the tubes with the control valves for supplying compressed air to the cup and with the valves in position for initially constricting the base of the teat.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the position of the valves at the completion of the milking stroke of the cup.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the valves the passages I l.

cup to permit refilling of the teat.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the teat cup generally which includes an outer chamber or cup 6 constructed of suitable material having rigid walls and an inner chamber 1 preferably constructed of live rubber suitably reinforced with fabric thread, the walls of the-inner chamber 1 being spaced from the walls of the outer chamber or cup 5.

The inner chamber 1 extends vertically in the outer chamber or cup 6 and is formed at its lower end with a tube 8 which extends through the bot-tom of the chamber 6 and is suitably secured in position thereto, the tube 8 leading to a vessel or tank in which the milk is collected.

The upper end of the inner chamber 1 is open and. is formed with an annular chamber 9 which has its outer upper surface suitably secured to the upper edge of the outer-chamber or cup 6 to seal the top of the latter. p 1

The annular chamber 9 is formed at diametrically opposite sides with substantially elongated vertical pockets I0 connected by passages II to each other, whereby the annular chamber 9 is formed at diametrically opposite sides with walls l2 of greater area in the region of the pockets l0 and of less area, as shown at I3, in the region of The formation of the annular chamber 9 at the upper end of the inner chamber 1 constricts the open upper end of the inner chamber, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to provide tight fitting engagement at the base of a, teat It when placed thereon so that a slight vacuum is created in the inner chamber 1 sufiicient to securely hold the cup in position. A tube l5 extends downwardly in the outer chamber 6 with its upper end connected to the annular chamber 9 at one of the pockets I0 thereof, the tube l5 extending outwardly through the lower portion of the cup through an outer tube I6 in spaced relation from the walls thereof, the outer tube having one end connected to the lower portion of the outer chamber 6;

The other end of the inner tube I5 is connected to a port I! of an inlet control valve I8 of conventional construction, and the tube I5 is also provided with a branch tube I 9 which is connected to a port 20 of an exhaust control valve 2|, the valves l8 and 2| being mounted in a casing 22.

The valves I8 and 2| are rotated in the housing 22 in any suitable manner such as through the medium'of power-operated gears or the like (not shown).

The valves l8 and 2| are also provided with ports 23 and 24 to which the tube I6 is connected. The valve I8 is provided with a port 25 to which a compressed air line (not shown) is connected, and the valve 2| is provided with a port 28 which constitutes an exhaust port and to which a suction line (not shown) may be attached, if desired.

The valves l8 and 2| are rotated in a direction as shown by the arrows in Figures 3, 4 and 5, whereby the valve l8 will initially open the port I I with the supply line and subsequently open the port 23, while the valve 2: isarranged to initially open the port 20 with the exhaust portand to subsequently open the port 24.

Accordingly, in the operation of the device, with the cup 5 placed in positionon the teat M, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, and the valves l8 and 2| operated in the manner indisated, the first step in the milking action will occur when the valve 2| is closed" and the valve |8'-initially opens the port H with the supply line whereby to admit air under pressure tothe tube I5- leading to the annular chamber 9. The walls H of increased area of the pockets l0 will thenrespond to air pressure in the chamber 9 to constrict the teat at its base; as shown in Figure 3, and thus cut of!- communication thereof. with the udder 21.

" The pressure in the chamber 9 is maintained while the valve |8c0ntinues its movement to also tiallyadjac'ent the base of the teat and working downwardly toward its end to thus completely empty the teat, as shown in Figure 4.

Asthe valves l8 and 2| continue'theirrotation, the" valve l8 will close the port I! and 23 leading' to the tubes l5 and Hi and to open the ports 20- and 24 toexhaust the air pressure from the chambers of the cup and to allow the teats to again fill, as shown in Figure 5, for subsequent milking operations.

"In view of the foregoing description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that aclear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood,v however, that even 3 though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A teat cup for milkingmachines comprising .an-outer vertically elongated rigid chamber and an inner vertically elongated expansible and contractible chamber, said inner chamber having a mouth end for receiving a teat, an annular expansible and contractible chamber at the mouth of the inner chamber normally restricting said mouth and including a pair of vertically elongated pockets at diametrically opposite sides of the annular chamber communicating therewith and depending therefrom alongside said inner chamber, said pockets forming inner Walls of increased area to first respond to internal pressure in the annular chamber to'compre'ss the said walls against the teat at its base to close the same, and means for introducing air under pressure: to said annular chamber and rigid chamber alter- 'nately to cause said annular chamber tofirst contract about the upper end of theteat-andsaid'inner chamber to subsequently contract about the remainder of said teat.

2. Ateat cup for milking machinescomprlsing an outer substantially rigid chamber. and aniinner expansible and contractible chamber, saidv inner chamber having a mouth end for receiving a teat, an annular'expansible and contractible chamber at the mouth of the inner chamber normally restricting said mouth and having diametrically opposed inner wall portions of relatively greater resiliency than its remaining inner'walls to initially respond to internal 'pressure to compress the teat at its base", and individual compressed air supply tubes leading to the annular chamber and to the exterior surface'of the inner chamber.

' EDWARD JPGIERB REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Date-" Denmark Sept. 29, 194i 

